In NYC, a friend does a friend a favor like swiping a metro card when one is low, or picking up Chinese food when passing the place with the best crispy tofu, or holding a place in line for Shakespeare in the Park. These are nice little favors, appreciated for sure, but truthfully, they don't take much effort on the part of the friend doing the favor.
In the GNC, a friend does a friend a favor like driving forty miles in a torrential downpour to pick up a stranded bicyclist, or bringing a backhoe on a trailer to your house to move boulders the size of Rhode Island into their proper places, or loading their pick up truck with a half-ton of Item 4 and delivering it at exactly the right moment to grade the driveway. Now, those are favors with a capital "F".
Yesterday, a typical GNC day - clear weather in the morning, downpour in the afternoon leading to a breezy, cool beautiful dusk, friends came through on three different occasions, each one requiring much more effort than passing a metro card back through the turnstile. So, to my friends in the GNC who did me three great favors yesterday, Thanks A Lot!
You know who you are.
If I can pick up the dry cleaning for you, let me know.
What happens when Mr. Midtown moves to an isolated acre in the Great Northern Catskills? It's Inconceivable!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Utter Nunsense!
I couldn't believe my eyes -- downtown Hunter covered in cars, all the usual parking spots filled, cars even using the volunteer fire department's private back yard. The Doctorow Center on Main Street was buzzing - people chatting in the lobby, a line for tickets (the first time in my time in the GNC that I've seen a line for tickets for anything except lift tickets at Hunter), very few seats available in the theater. No, not for Harry Potter; I saw that last week here and I was one of five in the theater. The commotion was for the Saturday night performance of the Greene Room Players' production of Nunsense.
It was a laugh-a-minute night of musical comedy. The book, music and lyrics about the "Little Hobos" of Hoboken, NJ by Dan Goggin (who must have been a Catholic school drop-out) was putty in the hands of Linda Nichols, the director, musical director and choreographer. The Sisters could not have been more natural combinations of "gentle but firm", which, come to think of it, describes every Nun I have ever met. Every member of the production was Talented and Perfectly cast. The mother superior ("Lake Superior") and her side-kick Sister Mary Hubert ("The Black Sea") played off each other with marvelous timing and rapport.
Sure, there were predictable Nun jokes ("Attila the Nun", The Flying Nun and the necessary penguin march) but they were delivered in such an off-hand way that they managed to avoid being trite and instead became charming.
Every member of the all-female cast was up to the tasks of her role, but two numbers were show stoppers. Sister Mary Amnesia, played by Kelly Transue, belted out a touching "I Could've Gone To Nashville" so well that the crowd was ready to line dance in the aisles. Two numbers later, Sister Mary Hubert, played by Myra Garcia, doing her best Whoopi from Sister Act, delivered "Holier Than Thou" as if we were at a gospel revival in the Bible Belt.
Congratulations to the GRP, who proved that Hey -- there's talent in them thar hills!
It was a laugh-a-minute night of musical comedy. The book, music and lyrics about the "Little Hobos" of Hoboken, NJ by Dan Goggin (who must have been a Catholic school drop-out) was putty in the hands of Linda Nichols, the director, musical director and choreographer. The Sisters could not have been more natural combinations of "gentle but firm", which, come to think of it, describes every Nun I have ever met. Every member of the production was Talented and Perfectly cast. The mother superior ("Lake Superior") and her side-kick Sister Mary Hubert ("The Black Sea") played off each other with marvelous timing and rapport.
Sure, there were predictable Nun jokes ("Attila the Nun", The Flying Nun and the necessary penguin march) but they were delivered in such an off-hand way that they managed to avoid being trite and instead became charming.
Every member of the all-female cast was up to the tasks of her role, but two numbers were show stoppers. Sister Mary Amnesia, played by Kelly Transue, belted out a touching "I Could've Gone To Nashville" so well that the crowd was ready to line dance in the aisles. Two numbers later, Sister Mary Hubert, played by Myra Garcia, doing her best Whoopi from Sister Act, delivered "Holier Than Thou" as if we were at a gospel revival in the Bible Belt.
Congratulations to the GRP, who proved that Hey -- there's talent in them thar hills!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Death Watch
Tomorrow morning, the Doctor is coming to put them down. Six of them. One diseased, two struck by lightning in separate storms, three others huddled together, dead from unknown causes. If they fall naturally - by high winds or ice storms or heavy snow - they threaten the power line, the roof and glass picture window, so they must be lassoed, slashed, dis-membered and caused to fall in the other direction, away from the house.
I feel like I should cover the mirrors and dress in black.
It's before 10pm, maybe I can still call it off.
I feel like I should cover the mirrors and dress in black.
It's before 10pm, maybe I can still call it off.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
BGH Invades GNC!
What do I know? When I relocated to the GNC from NYC, I was more worried about roaches and rats inside the house than weeds and critters outside. That was before I knew about the Beastly Giant Hogweed -- its straight out of Harry Potter! I'm sure its used in some sort of spell that makes Muggles allergic to the sun. It's true -- the DEC says the sap of the BGH causes a condition called "photo-dermatitis", sensitivity to sunlight. A bad thing, since there's buckets full of sunlight in the GNC.
The BGH can cause blisters that are painful and result in permanent scarring. On the other hand, it's flowers are beautiful, resembling an elegant white umbrella, like Pippa Middleton would carry at the Saratoga races. For those of us who don't know the difference between flowering weeds (like the BGH) and flowers (like the pretty what-cha-ma-call it growing near my mini-waterfall), it's scary. I probably would have cut it down and put the pretty flowers in a crystal vase, and thereby turned myself nocturnal overnight.
The DEC warns, if you come in contact with a BGH, don't touch it or use a weed-whacker on it, since the sap may splatter onto you -- and then you're a goner. Given the sensitivity to sunlight, you became a vampire, only going to the local pub after dark. You can expect "long term sensitivity to sunlight" -- not a good thing if you like to go fishing, hiking, biking or otherwise wander about the GNC during daylight hours.
Not to mention, "possible blindness".
Quoting the Times Union, "[The Giant Hogweed] was brought to this country in the early 20th century because it's an amazing ornamental plant. It can grow to 14 feet tall." Well, the one on my property is not quite 14 feet but, let me tell you, I've been humming tunes from "Little Shop of Horrors" since I saw it over there overshadowing the basil.
To report a giant hogweed on your property, call the DEC at 845-256-3111 and say "Hello, Hogweed Man? We've got a problem!". Then, stock up on sunglasses, aloe vera and vampire novels.
The BGH can cause blisters that are painful and result in permanent scarring. On the other hand, it's flowers are beautiful, resembling an elegant white umbrella, like Pippa Middleton would carry at the Saratoga races. For those of us who don't know the difference between flowering weeds (like the BGH) and flowers (like the pretty what-cha-ma-call it growing near my mini-waterfall), it's scary. I probably would have cut it down and put the pretty flowers in a crystal vase, and thereby turned myself nocturnal overnight.
The DEC warns, if you come in contact with a BGH, don't touch it or use a weed-whacker on it, since the sap may splatter onto you -- and then you're a goner. Given the sensitivity to sunlight, you became a vampire, only going to the local pub after dark. You can expect "long term sensitivity to sunlight" -- not a good thing if you like to go fishing, hiking, biking or otherwise wander about the GNC during daylight hours.
Not to mention, "possible blindness".
Quoting the Times Union, "[The Giant Hogweed] was brought to this country in the early 20th century because it's an amazing ornamental plant. It can grow to 14 feet tall." Well, the one on my property is not quite 14 feet but, let me tell you, I've been humming tunes from "Little Shop of Horrors" since I saw it over there overshadowing the basil.
To report a giant hogweed on your property, call the DEC at 845-256-3111 and say "Hello, Hogweed Man? We've got a problem!". Then, stock up on sunglasses, aloe vera and vampire novels.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
How To Get to the GNC
In the winter, the skiers drive. Skiers seem to own cars. With all the equipment, there's not much choice. In the autumn, the Leaf Peepers rent cars and drive from inn to inn comparing beds and breakfasts from day to day.
In the summer, my guests who are not skiers or peepers are always asking directions and some of their questions are rather obtuse, such as, "If I take the train from Grand Central to Yonkers, can I connect to a train to Hudson?" Yeah, you can, but why not just take a train from Penn Station direct to Hudson? Or connect Poughkeepsie to Hudson, right across the platform? In any case, from those of you visiting for the rest of the summer, bookmark this page and refer to it as needed.
1. Trailways Bus to Kingston from Port Authority. Connect at Kingston for local bus to Phoenica or Hunter. I can pick you up in Kingston if the bus is too crowded or you are sitting next to someone objectionable. I don't mind, and the car ride is much nicer than the bus ride from that point -- Route 23A past the Falls is pretty rather than Route 28, boring. It's about 45 minutes to my house from Kingston.
2. Amtrak from Penn Station to Hudson. This is the best choice, but the most expensive. I can meet your train, we can have dinner at a nice restaurant in Hudson and then come to the mountaintop, about a 40 minute ride.
3. Metro-north to Poughkeepsie. This is the most frequent schedule, but the longest ride for me to come get you, about 1:15 each way. If you plan it well, you can connect Poughkeepsie to Hudson, but, as I said, if you do that, why didn't you depart from Penn Station (amtrak) instead of Grand Central (metro north), and skip the connection altogether.
4. Rideshare via Craigslist, at your own risk. Doable, though, and cheap -- usually, you chip in for gas. However, many of these drivers are college kids stopping at New Paltz which doesn't get you here. Better to find a college kid going to Oneonta -- they come right through Hunter on Route 23A. Oneonta is about 65 miles down the road, so they can come and use the bathroom.
5. Rent a car without mileage charges. Its about 125 miles each way and when you get here, you'll want to sight see so that's more mileage. Problem with this is summertime traffic going home Sunday night. Could be a problem if there's an accident or heavy volume on the GWB. My advice -- come Saturday instead of Friday night and stay over Sunday night and go home Monday morning; this avoids all the traffic.
6. Limo or radio-dispatch car one way. If you can get a good half-day flat rate, this can work. A good driver can make it round trip in 5 hours, so if you can get a good rate for 4 passengers it works out cheaper than peak Amtrak tickets to Hudson x 4.
7. Hitchhike -- not recommended. Unreliable as to elapsed time and company. Risky.
8. Flying to Albany or Stewart doesn't really work unless you are coming from a long distance.
9. However, helicopter works great, as there is a heli-pad about 1/4 mile from my house. You can walk to my house from the helipad. If you are serious about this method, let me know and I will send you the GPS coordinates of the pad. You can see it clearly on Google maps, just west of my address.
10. Your idea here. I am amazed at some of the ideas my friends suggest, so if you think of something else, please comment and I will list it here. Zip-car counts as rental; roller blades and bicycles are not considered serious alternatives, even for those of you who can ride a century.
However you get here, it is a great pleasure to have you as a guest. Enjoy all the GNC has to offer.
Your guest pass expires in three days.
In the summer, my guests who are not skiers or peepers are always asking directions and some of their questions are rather obtuse, such as, "If I take the train from Grand Central to Yonkers, can I connect to a train to Hudson?" Yeah, you can, but why not just take a train from Penn Station direct to Hudson? Or connect Poughkeepsie to Hudson, right across the platform? In any case, from those of you visiting for the rest of the summer, bookmark this page and refer to it as needed.
1. Trailways Bus to Kingston from Port Authority. Connect at Kingston for local bus to Phoenica or Hunter. I can pick you up in Kingston if the bus is too crowded or you are sitting next to someone objectionable. I don't mind, and the car ride is much nicer than the bus ride from that point -- Route 23A past the Falls is pretty rather than Route 28, boring. It's about 45 minutes to my house from Kingston.
2. Amtrak from Penn Station to Hudson. This is the best choice, but the most expensive. I can meet your train, we can have dinner at a nice restaurant in Hudson and then come to the mountaintop, about a 40 minute ride.
3. Metro-north to Poughkeepsie. This is the most frequent schedule, but the longest ride for me to come get you, about 1:15 each way. If you plan it well, you can connect Poughkeepsie to Hudson, but, as I said, if you do that, why didn't you depart from Penn Station (amtrak) instead of Grand Central (metro north), and skip the connection altogether.
4. Rideshare via Craigslist, at your own risk. Doable, though, and cheap -- usually, you chip in for gas. However, many of these drivers are college kids stopping at New Paltz which doesn't get you here. Better to find a college kid going to Oneonta -- they come right through Hunter on Route 23A. Oneonta is about 65 miles down the road, so they can come and use the bathroom.
5. Rent a car without mileage charges. Its about 125 miles each way and when you get here, you'll want to sight see so that's more mileage. Problem with this is summertime traffic going home Sunday night. Could be a problem if there's an accident or heavy volume on the GWB. My advice -- come Saturday instead of Friday night and stay over Sunday night and go home Monday morning; this avoids all the traffic.
6. Limo or radio-dispatch car one way. If you can get a good half-day flat rate, this can work. A good driver can make it round trip in 5 hours, so if you can get a good rate for 4 passengers it works out cheaper than peak Amtrak tickets to Hudson x 4.
7. Hitchhike -- not recommended. Unreliable as to elapsed time and company. Risky.
8. Flying to Albany or Stewart doesn't really work unless you are coming from a long distance.
9. However, helicopter works great, as there is a heli-pad about 1/4 mile from my house. You can walk to my house from the helipad. If you are serious about this method, let me know and I will send you the GPS coordinates of the pad. You can see it clearly on Google maps, just west of my address.
10. Your idea here. I am amazed at some of the ideas my friends suggest, so if you think of something else, please comment and I will list it here. Zip-car counts as rental; roller blades and bicycles are not considered serious alternatives, even for those of you who can ride a century.
However you get here, it is a great pleasure to have you as a guest. Enjoy all the GNC has to offer.
Your guest pass expires in three days.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Energy Companies Seek To Demolish GNC
The Department has determined, based on industry projections, that it may receive applications to drill approximately 1,700 – 2,500 horizontal and vertical wells for development of the Marcellus Shale by HVHF during a “peak development” year. An average year may see 1,600 or more applications.
Hydraulic fracturing requires chemical additives, some of which may pose hazards when highly concentrated. The extra water associated with such drilling may also result in significant adverse impacts relating to water supplies, wastewater treatment and disposal and truck traffic. Horizontal wells also generate greater volumes of drilling waste (cuttings).
A spacing of 40 acres per well for vertical shale gas wells would result in, on average, 70 – 80 acres of disturbance for the well pads, access roads and utility corridors (4.8 acres per well) to develop an area of 640 acres. A single well pad with 6 to 8 horizontal shale gas wells could access all 640 acres with only 7 to 8 acres of total land disturbance.
It is estimated that 2.4 million to 7.8 million gallons of water may be used for a multi-stage hydraulic fracturing procedure in a typical 4,000-foot lateral wellbore. Water may be delivered by truck or pipeline directly from the source to the well pad, or may be delivered by trucks or pipeline from centralized water storage or staging facilities consisting of tanks or engineered impoundments.
Potential significant adverse impacts on water resources exist with regard to water withdrawals for hydraulic fracturing; stormwater runoff; surface spills, leaks and pit or surface impoundment failures; groundwater impacts associated with well drilling and construction; waste disposal and New York City’s subsurface water supply infrastructure. During the public scoping process, additional concerns were raised relating to the potential degradation of New York City’s surface drinking water supply and potential groundwater contamination from the hydraulic fracturing procedure itself.
Using an industry estimate of a yearly peak activity in New York of 2,462 wells, the dSGEIS estimates that HVHF would result in a calculated peak annual fresh water usage of 9 billion gallons. Total daily fresh water withdrawal in New York has been estimated at about 10.3 billion gallons. This equates to an annual total of about 3.8 trillion gallons.
The dSGEIS concludes that spills or releases in connection with HVHF could have significant adverse impacts on water resources. The dSGEIS identifies a significant number of contaminants contained in fracturing additives, or otherwise associated with HVHF operations. Spills or releases can occur as a result of tank ruptures, equipment or surface impoundment failures, overfills, vandalism, accidents (including vehicle collisions), ground fires, or improper operations. Spilled, leaked or released fluids could flow to a surface water body or infiltrate the ground, reaching subsurface soils and aquifers.
...shall I go on?
Why are you just sitting there? If you love the GNC, shouldn't you be doing something? Much more on this topic very soon.
All excerpts UNEDITED from revised draft SGEIS 2011, Executive Summary
Get The Complete Report Here
Hydraulic fracturing requires chemical additives, some of which may pose hazards when highly concentrated. The extra water associated with such drilling may also result in significant adverse impacts relating to water supplies, wastewater treatment and disposal and truck traffic. Horizontal wells also generate greater volumes of drilling waste (cuttings).
A spacing of 40 acres per well for vertical shale gas wells would result in, on average, 70 – 80 acres of disturbance for the well pads, access roads and utility corridors (4.8 acres per well) to develop an area of 640 acres. A single well pad with 6 to 8 horizontal shale gas wells could access all 640 acres with only 7 to 8 acres of total land disturbance.
It is estimated that 2.4 million to 7.8 million gallons of water may be used for a multi-stage hydraulic fracturing procedure in a typical 4,000-foot lateral wellbore. Water may be delivered by truck or pipeline directly from the source to the well pad, or may be delivered by trucks or pipeline from centralized water storage or staging facilities consisting of tanks or engineered impoundments.
Potential significant adverse impacts on water resources exist with regard to water withdrawals for hydraulic fracturing; stormwater runoff; surface spills, leaks and pit or surface impoundment failures; groundwater impacts associated with well drilling and construction; waste disposal and New York City’s subsurface water supply infrastructure. During the public scoping process, additional concerns were raised relating to the potential degradation of New York City’s surface drinking water supply and potential groundwater contamination from the hydraulic fracturing procedure itself.
Using an industry estimate of a yearly peak activity in New York of 2,462 wells, the dSGEIS estimates that HVHF would result in a calculated peak annual fresh water usage of 9 billion gallons. Total daily fresh water withdrawal in New York has been estimated at about 10.3 billion gallons. This equates to an annual total of about 3.8 trillion gallons.
The dSGEIS concludes that spills or releases in connection with HVHF could have significant adverse impacts on water resources. The dSGEIS identifies a significant number of contaminants contained in fracturing additives, or otherwise associated with HVHF operations. Spills or releases can occur as a result of tank ruptures, equipment or surface impoundment failures, overfills, vandalism, accidents (including vehicle collisions), ground fires, or improper operations. Spilled, leaked or released fluids could flow to a surface water body or infiltrate the ground, reaching subsurface soils and aquifers.
...shall I go on?
Why are you just sitting there? If you love the GNC, shouldn't you be doing something? Much more on this topic very soon.
All excerpts UNEDITED from revised draft SGEIS 2011, Executive Summary
Get The Complete Report Here
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Independence Day, ignored
One of the most American traits of the GNC is the "Live and Let Live" mentality. I noticed it as soon as I moved here. Beyond a few fundamental rules, like paying your taxes and driving sober, you can pretty choose to live how you'd like -- mow your lawn or not, educate your kids at home or in public school (there's a lot of home schooling here), shoot firearms or fireworks in your backyard, socialize or not, it's up to you.
A great number of people have chosen to embrace this good old American freedom to the max. In the GNC, we have at least three notable communities of substantial population - the Bruderhof Community, centered on Platte Clove Road, the Indian culture, meditation-oriented Peace Village, centered on Route 23A in Haines Falls, and the Hasidic Jewish community, centered in Tannersville, near Rip Wan Winkle Lake. All these folks enjoy substantial privacy, interacting with the rest of us as they wish, and usually they wish not. There is some interaction in the course of business, but not much. As far as I can tell, there's no particular outward hostility shown toward any of the communities, though I have heard some resentment about their expertise at tax avoidance.
So, that is why is it so puzzling to me, as a relative newcomer to the GNC, that on July 4th, Independence Day, the day we celebrate the USA and all its history, ideals, freedoms and idiosyncrasies (hot dog eating contests, watermelon-pit spitting contests, beer-drinking beyond all reasonableness, etc.) that there was no representation at any event I attended by anyone recognizable from any of those three communities. (Believe me, they're recognizable.) You would think that those who are enjoying the freedom to dis-associate from the rest of us would, at least on that one day, show their appreciation to the country that allows them this much latitude.
I'm not saying there should be fireworks over Peace Village or that the Bruderhof folks should dress in red, white and blue or that the Hasidim should eat hot dogs and ice cream on Main Street, but somehow, somewhere, shouldn't they participate a little to show their appreciation for the country that embraces "Live and Let Live" as a basic premise, which they enjoy so completely?
Even if it's expressed as G-d Bless America?
A great number of people have chosen to embrace this good old American freedom to the max. In the GNC, we have at least three notable communities of substantial population - the Bruderhof Community, centered on Platte Clove Road, the Indian culture, meditation-oriented Peace Village, centered on Route 23A in Haines Falls, and the Hasidic Jewish community, centered in Tannersville, near Rip Wan Winkle Lake. All these folks enjoy substantial privacy, interacting with the rest of us as they wish, and usually they wish not. There is some interaction in the course of business, but not much. As far as I can tell, there's no particular outward hostility shown toward any of the communities, though I have heard some resentment about their expertise at tax avoidance.
So, that is why is it so puzzling to me, as a relative newcomer to the GNC, that on July 4th, Independence Day, the day we celebrate the USA and all its history, ideals, freedoms and idiosyncrasies (hot dog eating contests, watermelon-pit spitting contests, beer-drinking beyond all reasonableness, etc.) that there was no representation at any event I attended by anyone recognizable from any of those three communities. (Believe me, they're recognizable.) You would think that those who are enjoying the freedom to dis-associate from the rest of us would, at least on that one day, show their appreciation to the country that allows them this much latitude.
I'm not saying there should be fireworks over Peace Village or that the Bruderhof folks should dress in red, white and blue or that the Hasidim should eat hot dogs and ice cream on Main Street, but somehow, somewhere, shouldn't they participate a little to show their appreciation for the country that embraces "Live and Let Live" as a basic premise, which they enjoy so completely?
Even if it's expressed as G-d Bless America?
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Such Cute Little Fireworks
Bear Creek is a little business at the junction of Route 23A and Route 214, east of Hunter, west of Tannersville. The proprietors try hard to entertain the local families and the summer visitors, giving them something to do in the evening when the Sky Ride and Zip Line at nearby Hunter Mountain close for the day. There's a restaurant and bar, mini-golf, a driving range, horseback rides, a kiddie playground. They tried paint ball, they tried go-karts. To their credit, they keep trying things to attract a few bucks and make a living.
Last night, they lit up a fireworks show, and boom! As they do every time, fireworks worked. People in the GNC love their fireworks and hundreds converged on Bear Creek to watch. The extravaganza went on for thirty minutes, featuring all your favorite pyrotechnic effects and ended with a patriotic display of red, white and blue sparkles in the night sky. Everyone left feeling quite American, I'm sure. Good Job, Bear Creek.
About 3am, Mother Nature decided she would show Bear Creek how to put on a show. Lightning lit the sky as if it were high noon; thunder rocketed through Stony Clove, echoing from peak to peak and rattling my window panes. The sky threw furious rain at the GNC. (Still is, as I write this Sunday morning.)
We sat on our deck last night, watching the fireworks rise just over the treetops, impressed by the effort Bear Creek had put into producing the show. We awoke this morning thinking how cute those little firecrackers were. If you really want to see a brilliant show, wait for a lightning storm in the GNC.
Last night, they lit up a fireworks show, and boom! As they do every time, fireworks worked. People in the GNC love their fireworks and hundreds converged on Bear Creek to watch. The extravaganza went on for thirty minutes, featuring all your favorite pyrotechnic effects and ended with a patriotic display of red, white and blue sparkles in the night sky. Everyone left feeling quite American, I'm sure. Good Job, Bear Creek.
About 3am, Mother Nature decided she would show Bear Creek how to put on a show. Lightning lit the sky as if it were high noon; thunder rocketed through Stony Clove, echoing from peak to peak and rattling my window panes. The sky threw furious rain at the GNC. (Still is, as I write this Sunday morning.)
We sat on our deck last night, watching the fireworks rise just over the treetops, impressed by the effort Bear Creek had put into producing the show. We awoke this morning thinking how cute those little firecrackers were. If you really want to see a brilliant show, wait for a lightning storm in the GNC.
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